Rotating heat radiator



Jan. 31, 1933. w, E L

ROTATING HEAT RADIATOR Filed Feb. 19, 1931 ATTORNEY l atented Jan. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM D. BELL, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T SURFACE COMBUSTION CORPORATION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ROTATING HEAT RADIATOR Application filed February 19, 1931. Serial No. 516,926.

Myinvention relates to rotating heat radiators. It has to do particularly with that type of radiator which comprises a radiating unit of fan-like construction whose fan blades are heated b means of the products of combustion of a ame which is preferably nerated within the hub of the fan from urning gases or similar fuels. The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing,

wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of my heating device with a portion of the scroll broken away to more clearly illustrate the periphery of the fan wheel.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the center of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Fi re 3 is a view of the fan and scroll showing the manner in which the products of combustion are dischar ed.

Figure 4 is a detail of t e pilot and combustion chamber, with the walls thereof partially broken away.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the fan blades broken away to show the interior bafile members.

In the drawing, I have shown my rotating heat radiator as com rising an annular scroll or casing 1 which is preferably provided with inturned flanges 2 and 3so as to form an annular channel-shaped structure which is generall U-shaped in cross-section.

This casing may lie vided with peripheral flanges 4 and 5 old to ether with bolts 6. The casing is also provided with an outlet 7.

This casin is preferably supported upon a standard 8 y means of a bracket 9 extending laterally therefrom and this standard is designed for the support of a fan structure which is designed to rotate within the casing 1. The fan structure is supported from the standard 8 by means of upstanding members 10 and 10' which carry journals 11 and 12 within which revolves the hollow drive shaft 13 to which is keyed a drive pulley 33 driven from a motor, not @own.

The fan structure preferably comprises a formed in two parts rohub 14 which is of substantial size and which 1s hollow to form a combustion chamber 15. 2 One end of the combustion chamber is closed by a head enerally indicated at 22, the head having a ange 17 which fits within the fan 5 hub 14 and is secured thereto by bolts 18 and having a hub 23 which is keyed to the drive shaft 13. The head comprises two disks 16 and 21, maintained in spaced relation as indicated at 26, by lugs 19 and 20 (see Fig. 1) through which are passed securing bolts 24. A partition 25 between the disks divides the space 26 into two compartments. The shaft 13 is extended through the partition 25 and the disk 16, the opening through the latter being sufliciently large to provide an annular port or passage 27 around the shaft. Since the space 26 between the disks 16 and 21 is open to the atmosphere as clearl shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and since the annu ar passage 27 establishes communication between the combustion chamber 15 and the space 26, it follows that air is free to flow through the head into the combustion chamber with consequent cooling of the head and preheating of the air which enters said chamber. The partition 25 materially assists in insulating the disk 21 from the relatively hotter disk 16 and may be of mica.

The hollow shaft 13 in addition to supporting and rotating the fan, serves as a mix- 1 ing tube for air and gas, the mixture being discharged into the combustion chamber 15 for burning therein. Fixedl secured to the journal 12 is a flaring houslng 28 forming an entrance cone for primary air. Projecting into said housing is a jet orifice gas nozzle 29 to which gas is supplied by a gas pipe 32. The admission of air into the housing is controlled by the usual apertured shutter 31. A gas valve, notshown, controls the flow of gas from the gas pipe 32.

- Extending radially from the hub 14, I have provided a plurality of series of hollow fan blades. One series may be generally designated 34 and the other series may be generally designated 35. Preferably the units of one series are in staggered relation to 'the units of the other series. This results in a better flow of air through the fan 100 adjacent the hub and in a stronger structure with comparatively increased areas of peripheral wall surfaces of the drum 14 beof concavo-convex form, as to its exterior surfaces and is provided upon 1ts interior with baffles 36 and 37. At its inner end,

each fanblade opens into the combustion.

chamber 15 of the drum 14. At its outer end, each fan blade is connected to a channelshaped rim 38 which is positioned within the channel-shaped scroll or casing 1. The outer end of each blade is open and coincides with;

an opening 39 through the rim 38. It will also be noted that the rim 38 is provided with outwardly extending flanges 40 and 41 so that an outwardly opening channel structure cooperates with the inwardly openingchannel structure of the scrollorcasing 1 to form a chamber into which the products of combustion are to be delivered, as will be explained.

That end of the fan hub 14 which is opposite to the head 22 is provided with a tubular extension 42 that leads into a tubular member 43 which surrounds a pilot burner tip 44 and which is provided with apertures 45 for the admission of air to support combustion. Fuel is conducted to the tip 44 by means of a pipe 46 under the control of w a valve 47.

In operation, the rotation of the pulley 33 brings about the rotation of the hollow shaft 13 and, consequently, the hollow drum .14 with the fan blades and the rim38. The centrifugal effect of this rotation results in the creation of a sub-atmospheric condition within the combustion chamber 15 of the hub 14. This serves to draw the pilot flame into the chamber 15 and simultaneousl to draw a mixture of fuel and air throng the hollow shaft 13 into the combustion chamber 15.

The combustion which then occurs in this chamber 15 results in the delivery of the heated products of combustion through the hol low blades of the fan structure. The travel of the products of combustion through these hollow blades serves to heat-these blades and the retarding action of the bafiies 36 and 37 increases this heating of the blades. The rotating heated blades transfer their heat to the air passing over them and produce heated currents with a maximum efficiency.

The products of combustion, after passing through the hollow blades, are delivered through the rim 38 and into the casing 1, eventually passing out of such casing through the outlet 7 to any selected location. The channel-shaped rim structure fitting Within the channel-shaped scroll or casing with a running clearance between the radially extending flanges of the rim and the casing results in a friction of the revolving rimwith the air in the clearance. This causes a centrifugal movement of this air of sufiicient magnitude to balance the pressure within the scroll casing and. prevent an outward flow or leakage of the products of combustion from the casing into the air bein heated by the blades. Likewise, the condition thus created adequately resists the spilling of any material amount of freshair into the scroll or casing from the outsideof the Wheel, such as might otherwise arise from the pressure conditions caused by the rotating fan blades.

The sub-atmospheric condition created in' the combustion chamber 15 of my device by rotation of the fan structure ensures that an adequate amount of gas and air may be drawn into the combustion chamber through a single inlet and the proportions of gas and air thus drawn in may be effectively regulated and controlled. Moreover, by reason of the fact that subatmospheric pressure prevails within the combustion chainber, air will be induced into the mixing tube 13 independently of the inducing action of the jet of gas from the gas nozzle 29 and consequently the resulting mixture can be made to more nearly approach the proportions required to form an explosive mixture without danger of backfiring into the tube, it being understood that as long as the velocity of the mixture in the tube 13 is in excess of the rate of flame propagation through the mixture, back flash will not occur. Vhen the mixture enters the combustion chamber it expands and hence, its velocity is reduced and consequently it burns within said chamber. Such additional air as may be required to insure complete combustion of the mixture is furnished by the air which flows through the driving head 22 and which enters the tubular extension 42 along with the pilot flame.

Thus, it is unnecessary, with my device, to provide an aspirating fuel jet or even to rely upon positive pressure in the fuel line. Likewise, the disadvantages of secondary air, such as difiiculty of control and marked tendency to undue noise are obviated; In other words, my device with its introduction of fuel and air through a common opening makes possible the easy and accurate control of the quantity and proportions of the fuel and air, produces quieter and more eflicient combustion, and makes it possible to operate the heater with fuel pressure far below the pressure possible with burners of the atmospheric type.

In addition, my apparatus obviates all danger of leakage, either from or into the scroll or casing. Likewise, the sub-atmospheric conditions in the combustion chamber facilitates the use of a continuously burning pilot flame, which is always desirable, and it will be apparent that I have provided an extremely simple means for producing this continuously burning pilot flame without the necessity of complicated piping, in a osition where it is protected from the ra iant heat of the combustion and in a position where it can be readily cleaned, adjusted and ins ected.

ther advantages of my invention will appear from the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A rotating heat radiator comprising a casing, a fan rotating within said casing and having a combustion chamber within the interior of its hub, said fan comprising hollow blades for conducting the products of combustion away from the combustion chamber within said hub, an aperture in said hub, and an ignition device so positioned with reference to the aperture in said hub that rotation of said fan will draw an igniting flame into the interior of said hub.

2. A rotating heat radiator comprising a casing, a fan rotating within said casing, said fan comprising a hollow hub and hollow blades leading outwardly from the hollow interior of said hub, means for delivering a combustible mixture into the interior of said hub, said hub having an axial opening on one side thereof, and means for producing a pilot flame immediately outside of said opening and in such relation thereto that rotation of said fan and consequent creation of sub-atmospheric conditions within the interior of said hub will draw the flame through said axial opening to ignitethe combustible mixture within said hub interior.

8. A rotating heat radiator comprising a casing, a fan rotatable within said casing, said fan having a hollow hub, and a plurality of series of hollow blades leading from the interior of said hub, the units of one'of such series being in staggered relation to the units of another of said'series. p i p 4:. In a revolving heater, the combination of a fan having a hollow hub forming a combustion chamber and having hollow blades in communication with said chamber. means for for flow into said chamber for burning there- 5. In a revolving heater, the combination of a fan having a hollow hub forming a combustion chamber and having hollow blades in communication with said chamber, a hollow head forming a closure for one end of said chamber, a hollow drive shaft secured to and extending through said head, and means for introducing fuel into said shaft for flow into said chamber for burning therein.

-6. In a revolving heater, the combination of a fan havinga hollow hub forming a combustion chamber and having hollow blades in communication with said chamber, means for rotating said fan including a holof said hub for receiving heating ases from said hub, means for rotating the an including a head forming a closure for one end of said hub, and means for cooling said head comprising a chamber formed in said head and peripheral inlets in the head for the admission of air into said chamber.

In testimony whereof I, hereby, aflix my signature.

- WILLIAM D. BELL 

